Choice in the Cloud Sets a Strong Foundation for Next-Gen Innovation

If you were asking yourself in 2016 whether your business should head to the cloud, 2017 will certainly present the answer. A recent IBM survey uncovered that 75% of C-suite executives representing 18 industries have cloud initiatives that are coordinated or fully integrated, compared to just 34% five years ago. As more businesses adopt the cloud to seize the benefits of an IT-as-a-service environment, McKinsey expects fewer landscapes with at least one workload running on a traditionally built IT infrastructure – from 77% in 2015 to 43% by 2018.

Even though businesses are projects to invest $1.62 million on average this year, IDG Enterprise research noted that the risk of failure still weighs heavily on executives’ shoulders. Concerns include data storage (43%), cloud security (41%), and vendor lock-in (21%). At the same time, the pace of private and hybrid cloud adoption is hampered by a lack of skills and expertise required to manage and realize the full advantage of cloud technology.

But all hope is not lost; there is a better way. With a standardized, scalable cloud environment, businesses of all sizes and industries can create a cloud foundation that accelerates innovation and addresses three fundamental requirements of competing in the digital economy:

Protect data and access information with a secure and open architecture

Open new revenue streams by accelerating the delivery of new offers and service

Chart your unique path from on-premise servers to the cloud

Starting on January 15, over 33,000 attendees are expected to attend NRF’s 2017 Annual Convention and Expo in New York City, representing a variety of leadership and IT-support roles in the retail industry. For three days, “Retail’s Big Show” will host an agenda of keynotes, stage presentations, fireside chats, and breakout sessions that will revolve around three central themes: building tomorrow’s workforce, driving in-store innovation with insight, and creating deep customer connection and inspiring experiences. And all of this is possible by leveraging the SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud service.

By bringing choice into the cloud strategy, the service provides a range of resources, including the SAP HANA platform and SAP HANA Cloud Platform, while maintaining the governance and flexibility you enjoy today. SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud bridges the gap between the existing IT landscape and a private managed cloud environment that is customized to address your particular business concerns and digital vision.

How you scale the partnership with SAP and the cloud platform is up to you. You can choose what systems stay on premise and moves to the cloud. You also have the power to dictate how to management your platform’s security, customization, integration, and risk. More important, you can balance governance and innovation on your own terms.

And with choice comes a hybrid landscape that can help your business reach new levels of competitiveness in the digital economy.

Discover how your business can optimize its transition experience to the cloud. Visit SAP Digital Business Services on the NRF show floor. Also, don’t miss these sessions to explore the opportunities SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud may have in store for your business: